The 2014 Winter Olympics are more than two years away, but Vernon’s Heather Mehain can already picture herself among the thousands of athletes in Sochi, Russia.
A standout on the local nordic skiing scene since her family moved to Vernon from Nelson in 2006, Mehain has steadily pole-planted her way up the ranks and is now ready to take the next step as she begins her senior career.
“This is the first year I actually started to look at my goals. I want a medal at the Olympics so I thought ‘What is it going to take to get me there?’” pondered the 20-year-old.
“Looking where I’d have to be, I’d have to be in the top-four in Canada. It won’t be easy, but it is possible.”
Mehain would like to use Sochi as a testing ground, with the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea being the ultimate goal.
First on her to-do list is to qualify for the World Under 23 Championships, Feb. 19-26 in Erzurum, Turkey. Her other major goal this season is to medal at nationals, Mar. 17-24, in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que.
Mehain, who trains with the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, has struggled with race anxiety in the past, to the point where it was no longer fun to compete. She found a remedy in Ruben Gonzalez, a four-time Olympian in luge, and now a motivational speaker and business author.
By following Gonzalez’ work, Mehain is developing the tools to keep her pre-race jitters in check, and is now focussing on the aspects of racing she can control, namely herself.
“It’s just all about believing in yourself. If you can visualize a dream and believe in it and do what it takes, you can get there,” said the soft-spoken Mehain, a Seaton grad now studying sciences at Okanagan College.
“I’ve been imagining myself at the opening ceremonies and the excitement and how it’s going to feel. I’ll visualize myself catching the other girl in front of me.
She also credits her coach, Darren Derochie, for offering his insight into competitive racing.
“His background in ski racing as an Olympian enables him to integrate the mental focus integral to racing into each workout, as well as deliver an excellent strength program and technique feedback.
“It is a bonus that he is so personable and easy to work with because not all high-level coaches are like that.”
If past results are any indication, Mehain should be ready for a step up in competition. In her final year of junior, she claimed gold medals at the national championships in Canmore, and at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax. She was also named to the national junior team that competed in the world championships in Estonia, an experience she won’t forget.
“We had traditional Estonian food – it was cabbage and stroganoff and potatoes everyday for lunch and dinner for a week. We got bored of that and lost some weight,” laughed Mehain, who stayed with the Canadian team at a bed and breakfast.
“People painted their houses pretty bright colours – bright yellows and greens and orange. Everyone skis and there’s ski trails everywhere.”
Mehain isn’t the only one in her family with Olympic aspirations. Her little sister, Sarah, a member of the Vernon Kokanee Swim Club, is on course for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. The 16-year-old recently competed at the Pan Pacific Championships in Edmonton, where she collected a pair of bronze medals.
Their mother, Mae, made the podium at the Masters Cross-Country World Cup last winter at Sovereign Lake.
“It’s neat understanding what each of us is doing, and seeing Sarah at her age going through the phases that I was, emotionally and mentally, and dealing with the different aspects of training and racing,” said Heather.
“It’s inspiring watching her in the pool and the people she is swimming with. People missing arms and legs, it’s incredible how they move through the pool.”
With snow scarce, Mehain stays on form in summer with a rigourous dryland training regime, logging anywhere from 15-20 hours a week. Her offseason mainstay is rollerskiing, but she adds running, biking and strength training to mix things up. She recently travelled to Canmore for a training camp on the Haig glacier.
Mehain is currently seeking sponsorship to support her Olympic dream.
To follow her progress throughout the year, visit www.heathermehain.blogspot.com.
